The first thing they ask is your zip code. Why not your driving record?
2006-08-17 00:34:19 · 13 answers · asked by alfonso 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
Insurance is basically a kind of gambling. The insurance company wants to figure out the odds of having to pay out money. They need to give themselves a 'house edge' in order to 'win' in the long run. So they use lots of math and statistics to figure out how to do this.
They have a massive data base of claims data and a factor they look at is how many claims happen in your zip code. Each zip code will have all kinds of information about how often cars are vandalized and stolen from certain areas and so if you live in an area where the crime rate is higher, they will charge you more for insurance. They will also look at your claim rate and your driving record, but they will even look at your credit report. Statistically people with bad credit have more claims.
They will take all kinds of factors into consideration before they finally figure out what to charge you. It's a fine balancing act they need to do to ensure profitability. Without taking these precautions they would end up paying out more than they took in in premiums, and would end up out of business.
But to answer your question they probably ask this first to see if they even offer coverage in that area. If they don't then the rest of the questions become irrelevent. In fact the first few questions are designed to see if they even want you as a customer. They will only go into details if they think you might be an acceptable risk.
2006-08-17 00:51:27 · answer #1 · answered by ZCT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We ask for a lot of things, but the zip code is a starting point. We have to fill in all the blanks so the computer will generate a price. Zip codes are divided up into certain territories...a group of close zip codes will be listed under that "territory" which has it's own rates. They may not vary by much though.
2006-08-17 09:28:13 · answer #2 · answered by mktobyjo 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My insurance agent asked about my driving record too - but I'm pretty sure they check that with the government, so they do not always need you to tell them about that.
The reason zip codes are important to them most likely is that they have a database about which parts of the country have more accidents per capita. So they want to know if you often deal with heavy traffic or the like.
As for why they ask for this first? It most likely has something to do with their database. I suspect many of them keep track of customers by name and zip code.
2006-08-17 00:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your zip code is one of the underwriting factors they use to determine how much they will charge you for your auto insurance.
Also, your zip code indicates what town you live in. They need to know if this is a town, city and state in which they are licensed to offer auto insurance.
Also, many of the quote providers direct your information to a local agent to give you your quotes.
2006-08-19 09:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
To find out how much there going to charge you. I'm from Ct.and insurance here is a big rip off. Just because I live in a certain area my insurance is high. I told them I don't have full converge so even if the car is stolen or broken into they don't have to pay. And they say sorry that's just the way it is. It's only been like that since they made it a law that you have to have it. So they can charge what ever they want I'm sick of them.
2006-08-20 10:09:03 · answer #5 · answered by robert d 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a form of redlining in my opinion where you live/ drive carries more weight than your driving record. Here in Detroit people are paying a huge amount for car insurance. Car theft, traffic congestion are factors but for a senior citizen who lives in Detroit to pay more than a teenage driver that lives in the suburbs is unfair. I have been insured with the same company 10 plus years only one minor accident, no speeding tickets. 1200 dollars for a 6 month policy for a 99 GMC Jimmy.
2006-08-17 07:36:44 · answer #6 · answered by Bigboi47 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where your vehicle is parked and driven is as important in determining your propensity for an accident as your driving history. For example, New Jersey has one of the highest insurance rates in the US.
2006-08-17 00:40:26 · answer #7 · answered by msdagney 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because they want to know the area that you live in to determine the risk. Some areas have higher accident incidences and no matter how good your record is, where you live also affects the amount you will pay for coverage
2006-08-18 03:07:57 · answer #8 · answered by deadcars42 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the accident rate may be higher for your area. Insurance rates are different everywhere.
2006-08-17 00:41:48 · answer #9 · answered by Karla 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actuary tables for auto theif and location are part of the rate game
2006-08-17 00:51:57 · answer #10 · answered by John Paul 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋